Examples of birds with crowns include African Crane, Black-Crowned Night-Heron, Crested Partridge, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, and Great Blue Turaco.
Birds with crowns is a term used to describe a beautiful sight in the birding world. When viewing a group of birds, sometimes you will see one or two individuals with strikingly colorful feathers on their heads appearing to be wearing a crown.
This phenomenon is more common among species that are sexually dimorphic, which means the males and females look different from each other. While the cause of this adaptation is still unknown, it is believed to be for display purposes during mating season.
Examples of Birds with Crowns
1. African Crane
| Scientific Name | Balearica regulorum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern and southern Africa, with the largest remaining populations in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa |
The African crane is one of the most well-known birds with a crown. These majestic creatures are known for their long necks and legs, as well as their beautiful red, orange, and yellow feathers.
Male and female African cranes look very different from each other. The males have black feathers on their heads, while the females have white feathers. It is the male’s bright red, orange, and yellow crown that makes them stand out in a flock.
Related Article: 19 Birds that Look Like Cranes
2. Black-Crowned Night-Heron
| Scientific Name | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | wetlands across North America, including salt marshes, freshwater marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, lagoons, tidal mudflats, canals, reservoirs, and wet agricultural fields |
The Black-crowned Night-Heron is a species of heron that is native to North and South America. It gets its name from the dark feathers on its head, which give it the appearance of wearing a crown.
These birds are mostly gray or black in color with white spots on their wings. They can grow to be about 24 inches in length and have a wingspan of around 48 inches.
During the day, they can often be seen perching in trees or on rooftops. At night, they hunt for food in shallow waters. Their diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and reptiles.
3. Crested Partridge
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | lowland rainforests in south Burma, south Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo |
The crested partridge is a bird that is found in Africa, specifically in Ethiopia and Somalia. The male of the species has black feathers on its head with a white stripe running down the middle, while the female is brown with white spots. This bird is also known as the Somali partridge.
4. Golden-Crowned Kinglet
| Scientific Name | Regulus satrapa |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | coniferous forests across Canada, the northeastern and western United States, Mexico, and Central America |
The Golden-Crowned Kinglet is a small songbird with a very short tail. The male has a bright orange crown with a black border, while the female’s crown is more subdued in color. These kinglets are very active birds, constantly flitting about in search of food.
5. Great Blue Turaco
| Scientific Name | Corythaeola cristata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | West and Central Africa |
The Great Blue Turaco is a large bird found in the forests of Africa. The males of this species are known for their bright blue feathers and red eyes. When in full breeding plumage, the male’s head is adorned with a beautiful golden crown.
The Great Blue Turaco is a shy bird that is not often seen in the wild. When disturbed, it will usually fly away to safety. The diet of the Great Blue Turaco consists mainly of fruits and leaves. This bird plays an important role in the dispersal of seeds in its habitat.
6. Grey Crowned Crane
| Scientific Name | Balearica regulorum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the grassland and wetland areas of the eastern and southern regions of Africa |
Gray-crowned cranes are one of the most well-known birds with a crown. These majestic creatures are found in Africa and have a wingspan of up to 7 feet! Their beautiful plumage consists of a black body with white wingtips and a striking yellow crest on their head.
While the cause of this adaptation is still unknown, it is believed to be for display purposes during mating season. It is also possible that the crowns help these birds to identify potential mates, as the colors may be an indication of health and fitness.
7. Hoopoe
| Scientific Name | Upupidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Europe and Africa to southeastern Asia |
The hoopoe is a colorful bird found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has a long down-curved bill and distinctive black and white stripes on its head. The top of its head also has a beautiful crest that can be raised or lowered.
8. Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo
| Scientific Name | Lophochroa leadbeateri |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | inland Australia |
Also known as the Pink Cockatoo, this Australian bird is one of the most well-known for its striking crown feathers. The male has a completely white plumage with salmon-pink patches on its wings, while the female’s body is mostly grey with some white on its head and underparts.
9. Orange-Crowned Warbler
| Scientific Name | Vermivora celata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin |
One of the most common warblers in North America, the orange-crowned warbler is a small songbird with drab olive-green plumage. The male has a faint yellowish wash on its face and crown, while the female usually lacks any orange coloration.
During the breeding season, the male’s crown will become a bright orange, making it easier to identify. The best time to look for this warbler is during the spring and fall migration when they can be found in wooded areas across the continent.
10. Polish Chicken
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Netherlands |
The Polish chicken is a breed of chicken that is adopted for both ornamental and utility purposes. It is characterized by its V-shaped comb and wattles, as well as its striking plumage. The Polish chicken is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, and it is believed to be one of the oldest chicken breeds in existence.
There are many different theories as to why the Polish chicken has such striking plumage. One theory is that the bright colors were used to attract mates. Another theory is that the plumage was used to make the chickens more visible so they could be easily found if they got lost.
11. Royal Flycatcher
| Scientific Name | Onychorhynchus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout most of the Amazon basin in northern Bolivia, eastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, eastern Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern and western Brazil |
One of the most stunning birds with a crown is the Royal Flycatcher. This South American bird is sexually dimorphic, with the males having a violet-blue body and an orange-red crown.
The females are more drab in coloration, sporting olive-green feathers. The juveniles of both sexes are very similar to the female in coloring.
This bird is not particularly vocal, but when it does make a sound, it is a harsh and grating “tek-tek-tek” noise. The Royal Flycatcher is found in tropical forests, where it forages for insects in the trees.
It nests in cavities in tree trunks, and will sometimes use the abandoned nests of other birds.
12. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
| Scientific Name | Regulus calendula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | far northern North America as well as the western mountains |
One of the most well-known birds with a crown is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This little bird is found in North America and has a striking red crown that is only visible when the bird is excited or angry.
The bird is mostly gray with white bars on its wings and a white belly. The kinglet family also includes the Golden-crowned Kinglet, which has a yellow crown, and the Blue-crowned Kinglet, whose crown is blue.
13. Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
| Scientific Name | Cacatua galerita |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Aru Islands, and New Zealand |
The male of this species has a bright yellow crest that he can raise and lower at will. The female has a white crest. Both sexes have a white head and underparts.
The wings are mostly grey, with some white markings. The tail is long and grey, with a white tip. Sulphur-crested cockatoos are very vocal birds, and are known for their loud screeching calls.
14. Victoria Crowned Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Goura victoria |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Guinea |
The Victoria crowned pigeon is a species of large, blue pigeon that is native to the forests of New Guinea. These birds get their name from the elaborate crest of feathers on their head, which somewhat resembles a royal crown. The male and female pigeons look similar to each other, but the males tend to have more colorful plumage
Related Article: 27 Birds that Look Like Pigeons
15. White-Crowned Sparrow
| Scientific Name | Zonotrichia leucophrys |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alaska and arctic Canada |
The white-crowned sparrow is a common bird found in North America. The male of the species has a striking black and white pattern on its head, with a white stripe running down the center. This bird is also known to sing a beautiful song, which can be heard in the early mornings during mating season.
The white-crowned sparrow is a common bird found in North America. The male of the species has a striking black and white pattern on its head, with a white stripe running down the center. This bird is also known to sing a beautiful song, which can be heard in the early mornings during mating season.
Conclusion
Birds with Crowns is a fascinating look at some of the most colorful and majestic birds in the world. These birds have evolved interesting adaptations that make them stand out from the rest, such as brightly colored feathers or crown-like markings on their heads
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.