The “pretty bird with eyelashes” likely refers to a species of bird that has distinctive eyelash-like feathers around its eyes. Based on this limited description, there are a few likely candidates that come to mind:
Peafowl
Peafowl, particularly peacocks, are known for their ornate and colorful tail feathers. However, they also have striking “eyelashes” that frame their eyes. These feathers are not true eyelashes, but rather specialized feathers that grow near the eyes. Male peafowl have more prominent eyelashes. The eyelashes help protect their eyes and also serve as a visual signal to attract mates.
Emu
Emus are large, flightless birds found in Australia. They have shaggy “eyelash” feathers around their eyes that give them a unique appearance. These feathers help shade their eyes from the sun and prevent dust and debris from getting in their eyes. Female emus tend to have more prominent eyelashes than males.
Rhea
Rheas are large, flightless birds found in South America. Like emus, they have pronounced eyelash-like feathers around their eyes that help protect their vision. They use their eyelashes to shade their eyes from bright sunlight and keep them free of dust. Males and females have similarly prominent eyelashes.
Cassowary
Cassowaries are another candidate for the “pretty bird with eyelashes” description. These large, flightless birds inhabiting New Guinea and northeastern Australia have distinctive brightly colored skin around their eyes that resembles eyeliner. Their shaggy eyelash feathers further accentuate their eyes.
Key Characteristics of Birds with Eyelashes
Birds that have conspicuous eyelash-like feathers around their eyes share some common characteristics and features:
- The eye feathers are not true eyelashes like mammals have. They are specialized contour feathers that happen to grow near the eyes.
- The eye feathers form a row ofHair-like strands framing the eyes, resembling mammalian eyelashes.
- They serve as shade against bright sunlight and protection against dust, debris, and vegetation.
- They accentuate the eyes for display purposes, especially in males trying to attract mates.
- Species in hot, bright, sunny environments tend to have the most prominent eye feathers.
- The feathers add striking ornamentation around the eyes to aid in mate attraction.
In addition to protecting the eyes, the eye feathers play an important role in visual communication for these birds. The accentuated eyes and eyelash-like feathers provide expressive facial cues for mating and territorial displays.
Examples of Birds with Ornate Eye Feathers
Here are some specific examples of birds that have conspicuous “eyelash” type feathers around their eyes:
Peafowl
Peafowl species include peacocks (males) and peahens (females). The Indian peafowl is the most widely recognized peafowl species. Peacocks have brilliant blue necks, a crest atop their head, and their iconic long, shimmering tail feathers. But they also have quite striking eyelashes. Their eyes are surrounded by slender feathers that make their gaze more dramatic and captivating.
Paradise Tanager
This medium-sized, vibrantly colored tanager has light blue feathers around its eyes that resemble thick eyeliner. Their eye feathers are thought to help signal mood and breeding condition.
Bare-faced Go Away Bird
This species has a light blue mask of skin around the eyes and long white eyelash-like feathers, giving it a unique appearance. These facial features are thought to play a role in visual displays.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Males have prominent black eye feathers and orangey-red eye patches, which are used in breeding displays to attract females. Their eye feathers help make their facial expressions more dramatic.
Marabou Stork
This large wading bird has a bald head and long thin feather “eyelashes” around its eyes. These help shade its eyes from sunlight when feeding.
Crested Oropendola
This South American species has yellow facial skin and long, wire-like black feathers surrounding its eyes. The eye feathers may help signal aggression and breeding status.
Rhea
As mentioned earlier, rheas have prominent eyelashes to protect their eyes from dust and debris in their grassland habitat. Both males and females have similar eye feathers.
Purpose of Eye Feathers in Birds
The eye feathers serve a few key purposes:
Eye Protection
The eye feathers form a barrier to shield the birds’ eyes from dust, wind, vegetation, and bright sunlight that could otherwise irritate their eyes. Species living in hot, arid climates often have the most pronounced eye feathers as protection.
Visual Communication
The eye feathers are thought to play a key role in visual communication and signaling for many birds. The accentuated eyes and facial feathers allow for more nuanced expressions and nonverbal communication. This can indicate mood, aggression, mating readiness, and attraction.
Visual Displays
Birds with flashy eye feathers often use them in courtship rituals and mating displays. For example, male peafowl will fan out their eye feathers to accentuate their gaze during mating dances to attract peahens. The eye feathers help enhance their expressions as part of the visual pageantry.
Camouflage
Some birds, like the Marabou Stork, have eye feathers that help camouflage and obscure the shape of their eyes to potential predators.
Differences Between Birds and Mammals
Birds and mammals share some similarities in their eyelash structures and functions, but also have key differences:
Similarities
- In both birds and mammals, the eye lashes help protect the eyes from debris and direct sunlight.
- They also play a role in nonverbal communication and displays in some species.
- Longer, thicker eyelashes are considered attractive in many birds and mammals.
Differences
- Mammal eyelashes grow from the eyelids and are true eyelashes. Birds have specialized feathers around their eyes instead of true eyelashes.
- Birds can fan out their eye feathers voluntarily as displays. Mammals can’t control their eyelash movements.
- The eye feathers in birds are thought to play a larger role in courtship displays compared to eyelashes in most mammals.
- Mammals move their eyelids to blink. Birds have nictitating membranes that sweep across their eyes to blink.
So while they serve some similar functions, the eye feathers of birds are anatomically distinct from the true eyelashes of mammals. The eye feathers are modified contour feathers uniquely adapted to grow around avian eyes.
Notable Examples of Eyelash Birds
Here is a table highlighting some of the most famous and visually striking birds with prominent eye feathers:
Bird Species | Description of Eye Feathers | Image |
---|---|---|
Peafowl | Long, slender eye feathers frame the eyes and fan out during displays. | |
Marabou Stork | Shaggy eyelash feathers give a hooded appearance. | |
Paradise Tanager | Bright blue feathers surround the eyes like thick eyeliner. | |
Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Prominent black eye feathers and bold orange eye skin. | |
Rhea | Long, thick eyelash feathers shade their eyes. | |
Crested Oropendola | Wire-like black eye feathers stand out against yellow skin. |
Conclusion
In summary, the “pretty bird with eyelashes” refers to a number of bird species that have modified feathers around their eyes that resemble mammalian eyelashes. While not true eyelashes, these specialized eye feathers serve important functions like eye protection, communication, and visual displays. Some of the most striking and famous examples include peafowl, emus, cassowaries, rheas, and certain tanagers, storks, and oropendolas. The eye feathers help accentuate mood, breeding condition, and attraction in many cases. Next time you see a bird that appears to be batting its eyelashes, take a closer look at those showy feathers framing its gaze!