Birds are charming, enigmatic, and utterly beautiful. And especially, songbirds remind us of those birds that are found only in faraway mystical lands and valleys. Surprisingly, songbirds do make cute companions as pets.
Notably, watching a songbird elevates the mood bringing positive vibes. The sight of a bird, combined with a mellifluous voice brings an unexpected smile to those lucky enough to remain nearby.
However, the song sequence of male songbirds is registered to be a simple method of indicating territorial presence and courtship.
Throw away all your worries, and enlighten yourself about 10 delightful songbirds that’ll rob your heart in a second.
Northern Cardinal
Appearance
These birds are long-tailed, medium-sized, and looks majestic red all over. They have a distinct red crest and a red bill that are cone-shaped and thick. Specifically, the female wears a grey mask and the male wears a black mask.
Area of distribution
These birds live in shrubs, swamps, dense bushes, suburban gardens, and backyards. They are widespread across the Canadian regions of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario.
In the United States, the Northern Cardinals are also seen in the eastern parts.
Behaviour
The male cardinal shows aggression while defending its territory. Interestingly, when a male cardinal catches its reflection in any glass surfaces, it regularly will spend time-fighting the elusive enemy.
Food
The Cardinals feed mostly on spiders, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and also on berries and seeds.
Song information
Being quite territorial by nature, the male cardinal sings clearly yet loudly from a treetop.
Golden-Fronted Leafbird
Appearance
A restless, green-bodied, and elegant bird, the Golden-Fronted Leafbird features an orange-yellow colour all the way from the forehead to the bird’s crown centre. In fact, their breast, throat, and cheeks are blackish and the chin looks deep-blue.
In addition, the Golden-Fronted Leafbird has a forked tongue and a slender curved bill. Overall, this bird consists of a vibrant coloured plumage. According to experts, these birds are heard more often than seen due to its body colour.
Area of distribution
They are widespread in parts of Sri Lanka, India, and Southeast Asia in particular. Being a natural tree dweller, the Golden-Fronted Leafbird inhabits broadleaf, evergreen forests and deciduous woodlands.
Behaviour
These birds are known for their long-lived, strong, and aggressive species.
Food
The Golden-Fronted Leafbird mainly feeds on figs, berries, fruits, insects, and spiders. Furthermore, flower nectar cannot be ruled out as a regular food.
Song information
The Golden-Fronted Leafbird’s songs are cheerful and melodic by nature.
Black-Naped Oriole
Appearance
This bird looks like a golden passerine featuring black colour on its tail and wings, with a distinct pinkish bill. Moreover, the Black-Naped Oriole features a rare eye-stripe which expands and joins at the rear.
Additionally, there are a lot of similarities in the appearance of females and males, and the striking distinction is the wing lining that looks more olive or greenish.
In general, juveniles contain a peculiar colouration right on their breasts.
Area of Distribution
These birds are found in forests, plantations, and gardens in various parts of the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Asia.
Behaviour
Black-Naped Oriole nests are usually made of twigs, bark, and grass. In fact, these nests are found in the tree fork.
Anywhere between June and April, females lay not more than a couple of eggs that contain purple-brown spots.
Food
Black-Naped Orioles eat mulberries, figs, cherries, and also on fruits. In addition, they also feed on insects and are also seen taking nectar.
Song information
These birds have a clear, loud flute-like whistle song. They are also known for their dipping flight.
Chinese Hwamei
Appearance
The Chinese Hwamei also called as the “melodious Laughing-thrush” contains a unique marking. Around 21 to 25 cm long, these birds have a reddish-brown plumage along with darker streaking on the breast and the head.
In addition, the feet and bill are actually yellowish.
Area of distribution
They are widely distributed in the parts of northern Indochina, Laos, Central Vietnam, Taiwan, and China. They Inhabit open gardens, reeds, bamboo, scrubland, and woodland.
Behaviour
The Chinese Hwamei are very shy by nature. These birds build large nests out of strong vegetation such as bamboo roots and leaves.
However, the females lay not more than 3 to 5 blue-green or blue eggs during May to July breeding season. After a fortnight of incubation, the chicks are usually fed by their parents.
Food
The Chinese Hwamei mainly feed on cultivated maize, fruit, ants, and insects. They also eat locust eggs.
Song information
These birds have a melodious song and are one of the most popular cagebirds in the world. Especially, the males have a peculiar repetitive, high pitched, varied, and rich voice.
Northern Red Bishop
Appearances
Not measuring more than 13 to 15 cm in length, this bird is nothing short of a finch but more like a sparrow in appearance.
Found in two different colours, non-breeding males appear mostly yellow-brown and breeding males feature waistcoat, brown tails and wings, and a scarlet plumage.
Area of distribution
Mostly found in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, southwestern United States, Equator, somewhere between Sahara and Equator, Northern Red Bishops belongs to Africa continent.
Behaviour
The males use grass and other materials and the females finally give them the finishing touch. In general, females lay not more than 2 to 4 aqua-blue coloured eggs.
Moreover, the chicks are quite happy to live on their own after 18-21 days after birth.
Food
A friendly species, the Northern Red Bishops eat plant food, grains, and seeds. Moreover, they may also feed on seed heads.
Song information
The voice of the Northern Red Bishop is mostly heard as a “Tsip.” Luckily, these birds do not fall under the endangered list category.
Gouldian Finch
Appearance
Also called as “rainbow finch”, Gouldian Finches are very attractive and colourful birds. They are brilliantly coloured with yellow, red, green, black markings.
The three different types of Gouldian Finches include-
- Yellow-headed Gouldian Finch
- Black-headed Gouldian Finch
- Red-headed Gouldian Finch
These birds were named by John Gould, an English ornithologist in memory of his late wife Lady Elizabeth Gould.
Area of distribution
Endemic to Northern Australia, the natural habitat of Gouldian Finches are tropical savanna woodlands. Moreover, until the 60s these birds were smuggled and exported to various countries in large quantities.
But at present, the Gouldian Finches are bred in captivity.
Behaviour
These birds make nests in tree-holes and also breed quite early in the dearth season. Female Gouldian Finches lay somewhere between 4 to 8 eggs and both the parents take care of them.
Being social by nature, Gouldian Finches are known for their interactive skills. If grown as pets, try keeping a small flock or a pair.
Food
The Gouldian Finches are seed-eaters. Based on the season, the Gouldian Finches feed on different food varieties.
- Dry season- Fallen seeds
- Breeding season- Half-ripe or ripe sorghum grass seeds
- Wet season- Spinifex grass seed
Song information
The most vital piece of information is that only Male Gouldian Finches sing.
Prothonotary Warbler
Appearance
This bird is golden-yellow in colour and an exceptionally bouncing bird featuring blue-grey tail and wings.
In fact, the Prothonotary Warblers black bead eyes separate it from other warblers. Furthermore, this bird features unique double-pattern, which appears dark (tip) and white(base).
The Prothonotary Warblers weigh around 12.5 g. They grow 13 cm long (approx.).
Area of distribution
These birds are largely distributed in the regions of the Eastern United States and southeastern Ontario. Also, the Warblers love northern South America and the West Indies as their winter destination.
Food
The Prothonotary Warblers eats spiders, snails, beetles, caterpillars, and insects.
Behaviour
Unlike some of the other warblers, these birds construct their nests above slow-moving or standing water, in birdhouses, stumps, in empty holes in dead branches.
These birds lay not more than 4 to 6 eggs of pink and creamy colour with distinct brown spots. Moreover, after a fortnight of incubation, the chicks move out within a span of 10 days of hatching.
Song information
The population of this bird species is already on a decline because of deforestation. And, the song of a Prothonotary Warbler sounds “sweet-sweet” with a high pitch.
Painted Bunting
Appearance
Uniquely, the Painted Bunting has a sobriquet “nonpareil” meaning unrivalled. Also, the Bunting’s plumage turns it into a well-recognized songbird in the whole of North America.
The newborns and females have painted feathers of yellow-green and green tinge. Males consists of a greenback, red underparts, and a blue head.
Area of distribution
The Painted Bunting lives in two pockets: all the way from northern Texas – northern Mexico. They breed around woodland edges, shrub areas, and thickets.
Behaviour
The female Painted Bunting lays 3 or 4 eggs at a stretch. These birds are extremely secretive and shy.
Food
The Painted Bunting eats grass seeds.
Song Information
The male Painted Buntings are well-known for their singing prowess.
Brazilian Tanager
Appearance
The male Tanager displays a bright orange-red scarlet plumage including black wings and tails.
In fact, the underparts appear strikingly redder than other species. Under normal circumstances, the bill contains two colours- The lower one appears pale and the upper part looks black.
Interestingly, this bright plumage is more appealing in the Brazilian Tanager’s second year. The presence of a white spot at the base of its beak is very distinct.
On the other hand, the female Brazilian Tanager features red-brown belly with the grey-brown body.
Area of distribution
These birds are native to Brazil and mostly found in tropical shrublands, lowland, and coastal forests.
Behaviour
Breeding normally happens in a nest and Tanager lays eggs in threes and twos.
Food
The Brazilian Tanagers feed on pulpy seeds and food. These birds are also known to be aggressive and competitive.
Song Information
The Tanagers are seen in the “least risk” category, showing no global threat. They have a chirpy kind of voice.
Superb Starling
Appearance
This is a distinctive, small bird featuring a shiny blue-green upper breast, upperparts, wings, and also tail.
Flanks, thighs, and belly appear in chestnut colour. In addition, the belly looks divided from the breast by a fanciful narrow white band. The head looks bronze-black on the ears and crown.
The eyes look greyish-white, but the feet, legs, and bill are pitch black. In particular, both the female and male Superb Starling look one and the same.
Area of distribution
The Superb Starling remains a bird to reckon in East Africa and is easily found in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Southeast Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. These birds are often seen near human populations, and mostly at an altitude up to 2500 mts, in woodlands, lakes, and cultivated areas.
Behaviour
The Superb Starlings are normally found in large groups and friendly. Usually monogamous, they also exhibit cooperative breeding mechanisms during their breeding season. They make their nests using grasses and twigs and contains side entrances.
The female Superb Starling lays not more than 3 to 4 eggs, they incubate them for more than a fortnight.
Food
These birds feed mostly on flies, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, ants, and insects.
Song information
This bird features a long and loud song, which contains chattering and thrilling. Overall, the Superb Starlings are not a threatened species.
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