Birds play a crucial role in the environment and human life, as every living thing on earth depends on them. Bird watching is often a diversion from the stresses of daily life. Birds that we will never see are still valuable to us; knowing that these birds exist in our world is comforting and uplifting, just knowing they are there. They are responsible for dispersing seeds that provide crops for food, shelter, medicine, etc. They restore ecosystems that have been destroyed and transport plants to new islands. In gardens, on farms, and elsewhere, they are a natural way to control pests. When flying through the air, a flock of birds can easily consume hundreds of insects at a time. The warbler, bluebird, and woodpecker are among the birds that eat insects. Birds disperse the seeds they have eaten with their droppings when they travel.
Birds help bring back plants from damaged ecosystems, and sometimes they even move them across seas to new lands. Birds have shaped the plant life we see around us – and the world. In high altitudes or hot climates, birds such as hummingbirds and honeyeaters also contribute to pollination. Birds pollinate nearly a quarter of Salvia species in South Africa. As birds prefer sight to smell, these flowers lack scent. When we think of pollinators, we tend to think of bees and butterflies. However, approximately 5% of the plants humans use for food or medicine are pollinated by birds.
Birds are undoubtedly one of nature’s most beautiful wonders. Their brilliant colors and graceful movements have inspired art, music, and literature to symbolise hope, peace, liberty, intelligence, and joy for centuries. As birds can see UV light, this impacts how they perceive one another. Many bird species reflect ultraviolet (UV) light, which the human eye cannot see.
There are over ten thousand species of birds that humans have discovered so far, and each of them is beautiful and has many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some of them are gorgeous. Below we have compiled a list of some of the most beautiful birds.
