Celebrate National Bird Day on Jan. 5 by appreciating all things bird. From their lovely songs to their ornate plumage, honor our flying friends with this collection of beautiful birds and a few fine feathered facts that just might surprise you.
Birds are a smart species, with some crafty enough to create and use tools for their benefit.
A bird's heart beats 400 times per minute while resting and up to 1,000 beats per minute when flying.
There are over 1,000 different species of birds worldwide, several of which are close to extinction due to pressures from the illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss.
Birds have hollow bones, which help them fly. And they are thought to have evolved from the theropod dinosaurs.
Flamingos are strong swimmers and flyers but prefer wading. The birds are also monogamous and lay only a single egg each year.
A bird's plumage can change for several reasons, including when it's molting or has been bleached by the sun. But one of its main purposes is for mating. The male's bird markings have a direct impact on how attractive he is to a female.
Songbirds communicate their identity and location to other birds through song. Bird calls are different from bird songs and are used to send an alarm.
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world and can fly backward. And 4.2 percent of the bird's weight is its brain.
Swans can weigh up to 30 pounds and have a wingspan up to six to eight feet.
A bird's body temperature is around seven to eight degrees hotter than a human's. Over three-quarters of the air a bird breathes is used just for cooling down because they are unable to sweat.