12 Birds That Look Like They Have Hair

Birds that look like they have hair are truly fascinating creatures. Their feathers often resemble unique hairstyles, making them stand out in the bird world. From the Victoria crowned pigeon with its lace-like crest to the sulphur-crested cockatoo flaunting a bright yellow crest, these birds show us nature’s creativity.

These “hair-like” feathers aren’t just for looks; they play an important role in communication and survival. Whether it’s attracting a mate or defending territory, birds that look like they have hair use their striking crests to make an impression. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most stunning birds with incredible “hairdos” that capture the beauty of nature.

Birds With Great Hair

Victoria Crowned Pigeon – The Royal Walker of New Guinea

The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is one of the most elegant birds in the world. Native to New Guinea, this large pigeon has blue-grey plumage, a maroon chest, red eyes, and an impressive lace-like crest with white tips that fans out like a royal crown. It lives in swamp forests and walks gracefully on the forest floor in search of fruit. Its “hair” isn’t just for show—it plays a part in attracting mates and warning other pigeons when danger is near.

Grey Crowned Crane – Africa’s Golden-Crested Beauty

Another bird with a fancy feather crown is the grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum), also known as the African crowned crane or golden crowned crane. Found in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Uganda, where it is the national bird, this crane has a stunning golden crest, a grey body, white wings, and touches of russet, maroon, and golden feathers. Its black-and-white face and red throat pouch make it stand out. This bird uses its crest to show emotions like excitement or alertness, much like how we raise our eyebrows.

Egyptian Vulture – The Scruffy but Smart Scavenger

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) has shaggy feathers around its neck that look like messy hair. It has a yellow face, black-tipped wings, and is known for being a clever scavenger. You’ll find it in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Although it may not win a beauty contest, its scruffy look is unique, and it plays a crucial role in cleaning up the environment.

Eurasian Hoopoe – The Punk Rock Bird of the Countryside

The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is another standout. Its fawn plumage is beautiful on its own, but what really catches the eye is its black-tipped crest, which fans out like a punk hairstyle. Found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, it’s an insectivore that feeds mostly on bugs in the soil. Its soft “hoo-hoo-hoo” call is a signature sound in many countryside areas.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo – The Loud and Social Mimic

Then there’s the smart and noisy sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), native to Australia and New Guinea. This bird has white plumage and a bright yellow crest that rises and falls depending on its mood. It’s known for its intelligent nature and ability to mimic human speech. These cockatoos are very social and can often be seen flying in loud flocks or playing around in trees.

Great Crested Grebe – A Stylish Diver with a Courtship Dance

The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a diving bird found in freshwater lakes. During the breeding season, it grows a fancy black double crest and a chestnut ruff that makes it look very stylish. Its courtship dance involves head shaking and mirroring, and its “hair” plays a big role in attracting a partner.

Indian Peafowl – More Than Just a Colorful Tail

The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), commonly known as the peacock, is famous for its colorful tail, but its head also deserves attention. It has a small fan-shaped crest that sits on top of its head like a crown. The bird’s iridescent blue body and shimmering feathers make it one of the most photographed birds in India.

Royal Flycatcher – A Tiny Bird with a Fiery Umbrella Crest

The tropical royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) is a small bird from the Amazon rainforest with a huge personality. Its vibrant crest, which lays flat most of the time, fans out like a fiery umbrella when the bird is excited or defending its nest. It’s an insectivore that hunts in the thick forest canopy.

Crested Coua – Madagascar’s Sleepy-Looking Tree-Hopper

From Madagascar comes the crested coua (Coua cristata), a bird with a striking blue face and a fluffy crest that gives it a sleepy look. It spends most of its time hopping around in the treetops, foraging for fruit and insects. Though not well-known, it’s one of the hidden gems of the island’s wildlife.

Elegant Crested Tinamou – A Hidden Beauty of the Grasslands

The elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans) from Argentina has a sleek body and a small head topped with a curvy little crest. Despite its short wings, it’s good at hiding from predators by blending into its dry grassland habitat. Its soft whistling call can be heard during early mornings.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock – The Flashy Dancer of Cloud Forests

In the cloud forests of South America, the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) shows off its bright orange crest, which covers most of its head. Males perform dance displays on leks, where they gather to impress females with their colors and moves. This bird is a true showman of the forest.

Pileated Woodpecker – North America’s Loud, Red-Crested Driller

Lastly, the pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is one of the largest woodpeckers in North America, easily recognized by its red crest, black body, and loud, ringing calls. It uses its strong beak to drill into trees in search of insects and to create nesting holes.

Splendid Birds With Hair

The birds in this list are not only known for their “hair-like” crests but also for their impressive colors and rare beauty. The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) and the grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) appear again, reminding us how truly iconic their feather crowns are. Alongside them is the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), found in the North Pacific, with a black body, white face, and a bright orange beak. Its thick golden tufts stick out behind its head like long sideburns, giving it a rockstar vibe.

The southern crested guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) is another eye-catcher. Native to southern Africa, it has a curly crest, red eyes, and a speckled body that blends well with forest surroundings. Meanwhile, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), known as the “monkey-eating eagle,” has a strong brown crest and fierce eyes. It’s one of the largest and rarest eagles in the world, found only in the Philippines and sadly listed as endangered due to habitat loss.

Returning to our stylish lineup, the demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo) of Central Asia has graceful long feathers that trail down from behind its head like elegant ribbons. The blond-crested woodpecker (Celeus flavescens), from Brazil, has a bright yellow crest that stands out against its dark face. The smew (Mergellus albellus), a small duck from Europe, is pure white with a black mask across its eyes, giving it the look of a tiny masked superhero.

Then there’s the great curassow (Crax rubra), a large bird with a curled crest found in Central America. It struts through the jungle looking like it owns the place. And let’s not forget the flashy golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) from China, with its layered golden crest and flowing cape-like feathers. This bird looks like it walked straight out of a painting.

Birds With Snazzier Hairdos Than You

Some birds just go over the top with their feather styles. The Dalmatian pelican, seen in southeastern Europe, has wild curly nape feathers that look like it just woke up. The crested partridge, from Southeast Asia, shows off a bold red crest that makes its tiny round body even more noticeable.

Birds like the great curassow and the Andean cock-of-the-rock make another appearance, proving just how fashionable they are. The Himalayan monal, the national bird of Nepal, shines with a metallic crest and shimmering rainbow-like feathers. The Nicobar pigeon, from the Nicobar Islands, displays iridescent feathers that seem to glow in the sunlight.

The ornate hawk-eagle (Nisaetus ornatus), from South America, has a striped head with a tall striped crest that matches its fierce look. The silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) shows off a white crest and contrasting black body. Even farm birds like the Polish crested chicken have their moment with a big fluffy feathered crest, making them popular as fancy pets.

Let’s not forget the crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) and the desert-dwelling spinifex pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) from Australia. Their slim head feathers and unique colors help them stay cool and stylish in hot, dry regions. And, of course, no list would be complete without the Victoria crowned pigeon, who continues to rule the bird hairstyle world.

Conclusion

Birds that look like they have hair are some of the most fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom. While their “hair” is actually made of feathers, the variety of styles, colors, and shapes is truly breathtaking. From the lace-like crest of the Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) to the bold yellow crest of the sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) and the curled crest of the great curassow (Crax rubra), these birds show us that nature has an eye for design.

Each one of these birds that look like they have hair tells a unique story about where it lives, how it survives, and how it communicates. For example, the grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) uses its golden crest in courtship dances across the wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, while the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) uses its shaggy feathers and sharp eyes to clean up carcasses in dry landscapes. These birds aren’t just beautiful—they’re essential parts of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Whether you’re a bird lover, a nature photographer, or someone simply amazed by the natural world, birds that look like they have hair are sure to inspire. They remind us that fashion isn’t just for humans. In fact, birds that look like they have hair have been showing off their styles for millions of years—long before we even thought of hairstyles and accessories.