Birds come in such a variety of colors. Blues, blacks, browns and greys are all fairly common across the globe but what about pink? How many pink birds can you think of?
Of course, there’s an obvious pink bird that appears on this list more than once. But there are more pink birds than you might think. Here are our 12 favorites:
1) Roseate Spoonbill
Location: USA, South America
Habitat: Wetlands, Marshes
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Platalea ajaja
The Roseate Spoonbill is a large wading bird known for its distinctive spatula-shaped bill and stunning pink plumage, which ranges from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age and location. The pink coloration comes from carotenoids in their diet of aquatic invertebrates.
Interesting Fact: Unlike many birds, spoonbills are more colorful outside the breeding season, with colors intensifying to attract a mate.
2) American Flamingo
Location: USA, Caribbean
Habitat: Coastal Lagoons, Mudflats
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Phoenicopterus rubber
American Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers, which they owe to beta-carotene obtained from their diet of brine shrimp and blue-green algae. Their color can range from pale pink to a more intense reddish or orange tint, again, depending on their diet.
Interesting Fact: Flamingos are not born pink but turn pink over the first couple of years of their lives as they consume foods rich in carotenoids.
3) Pink Robin
Location: Hawaii, Australia
Habitat: Forests, Woodlands
Rarity: Rare
Latin: Petroica rodinogaster
The Pink Robin is a small bird native to Australia and found in the USA (Hawaii), with males sporting a distinctive pink breast and belly. The vibrant pink hue against the rest of their dark plumage makes them particularly eye-catching.
Interesting Fact: The Pink Robin is territorial; males are known to fiercely defend their breeding area from intruders.
4) Allen’s Hummingbird
Location: Western USA
Habitat: Coastal Areas
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Selasphorus sasin
Allen’s Hummingbird males have iridescent orange-pink throats and are native to the coastal regions of the western USA. Their bright coloring is most vibrant when viewed from certain angles, due to the refractive nature of the feather structure.
Interesting Fact: They are incredibly agile fliers, able to hover in place and even fly backward.
5) Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Location: USA, Mexico
Habitat: Woodlands, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Pheucticus ludovicianus
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak male has a striking black and white plumage with a vivid rose-red patch on its breast. This splash of pink is a stark contrast against its otherwise monochrome coloring.
Interesting Fact: These birds have a beautiful melodious song, and both sexes are known to sing, which is unusual for songbirds.
6) Anna’s Hummingbird
Location: Western USA
Habitat: Urban Areas, Coast
Rarity: Common
Latin: Calypte anna
Males of Anna’s Hummingbird species exhibit an iridescent pink-red crown and throat. Their brilliant colors can change intensity with the angle of light, often looking dull from one direction but sparkling bright from another.
Interesting Fact: Anna’s Hummingbird is capable of a remarkable display during mating, in which the male ascends up to 130 feet into the air before diving back down at high speeds to impress the female.
7) Greater Flamingo
Location: Africa
Habitat: Mudflats, Lagoons
Rarity: Common
Latin: Phoenicopterus roseus
The Greater Flamingo is the largest species of flamingo, characterized by a lighter pink color on its body with darker shades on its wings. The pink pigment in their feathers is derived from a diet rich in alpha and beta-carotene.
Interesting Fact: They can drink water that is too hot for most other animals to tolerate, often seen drinking boiling water from geothermal springs.
8) Rosy Starling
Location: Europe to India
Habitat: Grasslands, Open Woodland
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Pastor roseus
The Rosy Starling is particularly striking during the breeding season when adults develop a pink body with a contrasting pale head. Their color can be quite variable, from a light rosy blush to a more pronounced pink hue.
Interesting Fact: They are known for their massive migratory flocks, which can number in the thousands and create spectacular patterns in the sky.
9) Rosy Pelican
Location: Worldwide
Habitat: Lakes, Estuaries, Deltas
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Pelecanus onocrotalus
Also known as the Great White Pelican, during the breeding season, they may acquire a pinkish hue. Normally white, they get their pink coloring from preen oil secreted by a gland near their tails used during grooming.
Interesting Fact: The Rosy Pelican has one of the longest wingspans of any living bird, essential for their highly efficient soaring flight.
10) Pink-Necked Green Pigeon
Location: Southeast Asia
Habitat: Forests, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Treron vernans
The male Pink-necked Green Pigeon has a beautiful pink neck which stands out against its green body. The intensity of the pink coloration is a sign of the bird’s health and vitality.
Interesting Fact: They have a unique diet among pigeons, mainly feeding on fruits, and they play an important role in seed dispersal.
11) Roseate Tern
Location: Anywhere Tropical
Habitat: Coastal, Islands
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Sterna dougallii
Roseate Terns are named for the subtle rosy tint on their underparts during the breeding season. Outside of breeding, they are predominantly white with a black cap.
Interesting Fact: They are one of the few tern species that typically nest in trees and have been recorded using old nests of other birds.
12) Flamingo
Location: Worldwide
Habitat: Wetlands, Lagoons
Rarity: Common
Latin: Phoenicopteridae spp
Flamingos are synonymous with the color pink. Their iconic pink feathers can range from a pale, soft pink to a fiery coral, depending on their dietary intake of carotenoid pigments.
Interesting Fact: Flamingos often stand on one leg to conserve body heat while resting, as they spend time in cold water.
Spotted Any?
Have you come across any of these? Let everybody know by commenting at the bottom of this page.
