7 Beautiful Pink Birds From Across the World

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Flamingos and pink are like firetrucks and red; when you think flamingos, you think pink. But flamingos aren’t the only fowls on the prowl that entertain onlookers with a pretty pink hue.

There are many other pink birds that populate this planet. Even the world’s biggest flamingo fan should be able to appreciate other birds, especially ones that share the fabulous fowl’s pink persuasion. 

Whether they are as awesome as flamingos is up to personal preference. But these seven other pink birds are impressive and elegant in their own rights. They deserve their time in the limelight, too.

7 Pink Birds From Across the World

Roseate Spoonbill

Located largely in brackish water in the coastal areas of Central and South America, plus the southern portion of North America, roseate spoonbills share a color with flamingos. They also share the reason for their pinkness: like flamingos, roseate spoonbills turn pink thanks to their diet. Their preferred treats include beta carotenoids that dye their plumage. Their food also tints their skin pink, something that doesn’t occur to flamingos.

If you’d like to catch a glimpse of a wild roseate spoonbill in the United States, your best bets are Florida, Texas, or Louisiana. They can hit as high as 2.5 feet (80 centimeters) and enjoy a wingspan of 4 feet (120 centimeters). Point is, if you go to the right part of the world and keep an eye out, you have a decent shot - they are colored pink, after all.

Pink-Headed Fruit Dove

You think flamingos are tough to track down? Try a pink-headed fruit dove. If you’re not at least a thousand meters high up in the mountain forests of Sumatra, Java, and Bali in Indonesia, then good luck. This endemic species - which means it can only be found in one defined geographic location - is not hanging out in America. In fact, it’s about as far away from America as possible.

But if you are ever in the position to see one of these birds, drink it in. Imagine a pigeon with a purple-pink head and a whole bunch of other crazy colors that are totally polar to the version that city dwellers are used to.

Scarlet Ibis

Scarlet ibises also get their strong color from what they eat, matching flamingos in that regard. Flamingos traverse a much wider amount of the earth, though. Scarlet ibises generally populate northern South America in places like Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Brazil, and Suriname. They can also be found on some Caribbean islands, plus they have begun showing themselves in Florida, despite not being native to the Sunshine State.

Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maybe it’s a slight stretch to call these birds pink, but red, orange, and pink can all dance a fine line (especially when you’re color blind). Regardless, these eye-catching creatures are something to behold. If you ever find yourself in a Brazilian bog, then, a) I hope you have a guide with you, b) keep your eyes peeled for a two-foot tall brightly-branded bird and be in awe.

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos are native to dry, inland areas of Australia and received their name from Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, a Scottish surveyor and explorer that trailblazer through portions of southern Australia in the mid-1800s. Their role to humans has shifted greatly since then - these cockatoos have become common pets in parts of the world. Notoriously personable, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos can grow very attached to their human owners.

Their looks are striking, too. Standing in at about 14 to 16 inches (35 to 40 centimeters), these birds offer an array of colors to compliment their characteristics. Their crests are magnificent, particularly when raised, displaying pink, yellow, and orange-tinted feathers. Their wings include white, pink, and red hues, and their tail feathers feature yellow and red.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbirds are medium-sized and stocky for hummingbirds, but they’re miniscule in the grand scheme of aviators. They’re only about 3.9 inches long (10 centimeters), and their wingspan is 4.7 inches (12 centimeters). But if you can capture one of these birds in your sight, you will be welcomed with a breath of beautiful colors.

Alhill42, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Green, gray, pink, red, and brown all incorporate into their exuberate, feathery coat. There is a reasonable chance you can see them doing their thing in America, too. Anna’s hummingbirds are native to the western coast of North America and have been found as far north as Alaska and as far south as the tip of Baja California. It isn’t tough to attract Anna’s hummingbirds into your backyard either, if you’re in the right part of the world. A hummingbird feeder can bring them around, assuming you provide them with the correct concoction.

Cassin’s Finch

This is another pink bird you might catch out your window if you live in the western half of the United States and at 10,000 feet or more above sea level. Cassin’s finches aren’t all pink - only the males are, while the females are brown and white - but you can encourage them into your yard with a bird feeder and the proper supplies.

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If the males come around your area, expect to see an especially-red crown atop their heads, while the rest of their bodies are covered in a rosy pink color. Cassin’s finches are songbirds, which means you’ll also hear them when they’re around. Their whimsical warbles are probably what you imagine when you think of “the birds chirping.”

Bourke’s Parakeet

Another Aussie, Bourke’s parakeets knows many names: Bourke’s parrot, blue-vented parrot, sundown parrot, and pink-bellied parrot, to name a few. But with good-natured personalities and calm temperament, they make an impression no matter what you call them. It’s part of what has made them a popular pet option for people over the years.

Bourke’s parakeets have shields of pink protecting their chests and abdomens, which is why they find themselves on this list. Their whole color palette is notable, though, from the males’ blue foreheads to brown flight feathers outlined by different shades of lighter colors and more. Given their status as pets, you might not have to go Down Under to see one, but if you are interested in eyeing a Bourke’s parakeet in its natural habitat, you have to head to Australia.