These 10 Baby Birds Are Incredibly Ugly
When you think of baby animals, you almost always think of something soft, cuddly, and super cute. But not all baby animals are adorable, and these baby birds certainly aren't. Some of them will grow up to be more attractive fowl, but even then, some never get to a point of winning in the good-looks category.
Bald Eagles
It takes quite some time for the United States' national bird to look regal and majestic. Bald Eagle chicks are born with a light gray down. Over the course of several months they'll get a mix of white and brown feathers, though the transition is quite awkward and the birds look a bit dishevled for months. Relative to the rest of their size, the beak and talons on these juvenile birds are quite large and disproportionate. Eventually these do develop into the striking birds you know and love.
Marabou Stork
It's unlikely anyone would say that these storks are attractive, whether as chicks or as adults. With bald, bumpy heads and reddish, wrinkled skin, they seem to resemble dinosaurs rather than other fowl. The spotted, featherless babies certainly wouldn't win any cuteness awards. Their bodies are quite unusually shaped and oddly proportioned. Eventually, the main part of the body will be covered with large dark feathers, but they'll maintain a large red pouch hanging from their neck.
Robins
Robins are an iconic bird, typically considered to be good-looking with a brown back and red breast. Their chicks are a different story. They are born completely naked with a visibly bright pink skin tone due to the lack of feathers. For the first few days their eyes are sealed shut, though they are disproportionately large. Feathers start to grow on these unattractive babies within about a week and they begin to look more like their parents.
Vultures
Vultures are already unusual looking birds, and their chicks are as well. They're born with a bald head and a very little bit of white down. Looking nearly naked, these juvenile birds have awkwardly shaped bodies with wrinkled skin. Vulture chicks also have large hooked beaks which will serve them as adults, but seem out of place on tiny birds. Over time they'll start to gain more feathers but the heads will stay featherless. This allows vultures to keep their heads clean while eating carcasses.
Muscovy Ducks
Maybe these aren't super ugly to look at, but Muscovy Ducklings have a very awkward waddle. Their unusual gait is due to disproportionately large feet and very short legs. While yellow and brown aren't terrible colors, these markings are quite bland compared to other ducklings. These colors help them blend into their surroundings and keep them safe from predators. As they age, Muscovy ducklins will completely transform and end up with unique markings and mostly white and black feathers.
Brown Pelicans
Large bills, bulging eyes, tiny feathers, and unusual proportions make Brown Pelican chicks quite an ugly sight. They have fluffy white bodies that look more like they're covered in fur than feathers. It takes some time for them to develop more striking feathers and become more graceful as they fly. While maybe not as attractive as other birds, adult pelicans are definitely easier on the eys than their babies.
Condors
If you think adult Condors are a bit scary, then you'll be scared away by their chicks too. Baby Condors have a bald head with straggly hair-like feathers on their neck and body. Over time they'll develop glossy black feathers on their backs, but the transition is not smooth. The bald head helps them stay clean while scavaging for food, but it definitely doesn't help them win any awards for beauty.
Owls
Baby owls have quite a peculiar appearance after they hatch. They're almost completely bald and only have a small amount of fluffy down. Their pinkish skin is easily visible and bare. But most notably, their eyes are huge, incredibly disproportionate to the rest of their body. They also have large beaks on their tiny faces. They'll continue to grow and rapidly gain feathers though, so it won't take too long for their bodies to catch up with their large head and feet.
Magnificent Frigatebird
There's not much that's magnificent about Magnificen Frigatebird chicks. With an unusually long beak, fluffy body, and bald head they're quite odd-looking. Fortunately they will start growing full feathers fairly quickly. As adults, they're known for their striking silhouette and impressive aerial acrobatics. It just takes time for them to make the transformation.
African Jacana
Their long legs and long toes may help them to stay afloat, but they sure look a bit weird. African Jacana chicks have scruffy brown feathers and unusual proportions, but they're able to stay safe as they run around their wetland habitat. Adult birds have beautiful, sleek feathers with white and black on their heads and chestnut on the rest of their body. They do eventually look better proportioned, but still have long legs and toes to help them navigate their environment.
Birdwatchers Love Having These Fowl-Attracting Flowers In Their Garden
Having a variety of plants and flowers in your yard is likely to attract some wildlife. But if you really want to attract a lot of birds you'll want to be intentional with your flower selection. You'll find that adding the plants from this list to your garden will attract a variety of birds and make it look beautiful too. Make sure you have your binoculars handy and even a bird identification app so you can show off to your friends how many birds you've seen frequenting your garden.
One Bird, Seven States: These Copycats Are Too Lazy To Pick A Unique State Bird
In the United States of America, each state has selected a bird to represent their state. With over 1,000 birds to choose from, it's surprising that seven states all picked the same bird. Find out why this bird is significant to these states, but also why they might have chosen something that was a better fit or at least more unique.
Gorgeous, Self-Seeding Flowers You'll Only Have to Plant Once
Growing flowers from seeds is an inexpensive and great way to grow annuals (plants that only live for one year). However, just because you plant them once doesn't mean you'll have to re-plant them each. Some plants self-seed quite easily and will come back year after year with very little effort on your part. Many of these flowers also attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to your garden.
Butterflies Can't Resist These Flowering Plants
Watching butterflies around your garden is a great way to relax and unwind. Encouraging these beautiful insects to come into your yard is as simple as growing plants they're attracted to. While nearly any flowering plant will bring butterflies into your garden, the plants in this list are tried-and-true butterfly favorites.
The Worst Gardening Mistakes Beginners Make Regularly
Gardening is a lot of fun but can also be quite overwhelming if you're just starting out. Naturally, new gardeners often learn from what they see more experienced growers doing. Sometimes this can lead to mistakes as beginners don't have the same knowledge and experience. These mistakes can be avoidable, but you have to know what to look for.
This article originally appeared on Succulents and Sunshine.