Explore Exotic Birdies of Unimaginable Beauty to Mark International Bird Day

The first of April is commonly known as being April Fools Day, so this popular holiday really casts a huge shadow over a less popular global special date also celebrated today - International Bird Day.

To give the wonderful birds the attention they deserve on this day, Sputnik has compiled for you a series of images displaying the stunning, extraordinary and exotic species that inhabit our big and beautiful planet, featuring a peculiar-looking toucan, a white peafowl and a gorgeous crane. 

1/15

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ttschleuder / Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) in Costa Rica

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) in Costa Rica.

2/15

CC0 / Pixabay /

White peafowl.

3/15

© Sputnik / Evgenya Novozhenina

/

Go to the mediabank

A girl with a barn owl.

4/15

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / A southern cassowary in the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

A southern cassowary in the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore.

5/15

CC BY-SA 4.0 / VikasPatil / Malabar Pied Hornbill (cropped photo)

Malabar pied hornbill.

6/15

CC BY-SA 2.0 / No-cha / Shoebill #3

Shoe-billed, or Whale-headed stork.

7/15

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Tom Ambrose / Royal Flycatcher (Cropped photo)

Royal flycatcher.

8/15

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Pete / Blue-footed Booby (Crooped photo)

Blue-footed booby.

9/15

CC0 / Pixabay /

Hummingbird.

10/15

CC0 / Pixabay /

Flamingo.

11/15

CC0 / Pixabay /

Black-crowned crane.

12/15

CC0 / Pixabay /

Mandarin duck.

13/15

CC BY 2.0 / Jerry Thompson /

Andean cock-of-the-rock.

14/15

CC0 / Pixabay/Edmondlafoto /

Macaws.

15/15

CC BY-SA 2.5 / Hannes Grobe / Kiwi with egg in the Kauri Museum, New Zealand

Stuffed Kiwi bird.