turkeys are often regarded as dull, but that definitely isn’t the case with the ocellated turkey. these birds are native to a small range in mexico and south america. they are smaller than north american wild turkeys, but they have much more vibrant plumage. both males and females have iridescent colorful plumage, though females can be slightly more brown.
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a male boat-tailed grackle, native to north america, shows off his iridescent plumage from the top of a post.
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bearded vultures are known for their vibrant red coloration. however, this isn’t their ‘natural’ color; it is derived from red clay the birds rub onto themselves as a status symbol (the darker the color, the higher-ranking the bird). when bearded vultures aren’t provided with clay, they are white like this bird.
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I know it’s not a whole bird… Did you know Blue Jay feathers aren’t blue? The pigment found in these is melanin, so they are actually brown. They only appear blue due to a prism-like affect. Thanks also for reblogging my bird drawing!
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no problem! thank you so much for sharing & submitting!
this is due to the MBTA (migratory bird treaty act). this is to protect native birds from being hunted for their feathers and other body parts. after all, it would be easy to kill a bird and say you ‘found’ the feathers. while it’s unlikely law enforcement will care about the cardinal feather you found in your backyard, it’s important to be aware of the law.
some birds that are not subject to this rule:
poultry
non-native pets – it’s okay to keep parrot feathers etc
invasive species – house sparrows, european starlings, etc
today's bird 