Do you know that purple birds are deeply connected to personal transformation, self-discovery and spiritual awakening? According to findings by a renowned dream psychologist, dreaming or seeing a soaring purple bird is a big nudge that unlocks your creative potential and inner wisdom. 

Among the most beautiful and vibrant purple birds are Purple Gallinule, Purple-Throated Cotinga, Purple Honeycreeper, and others. There are countless birds on earth with many vibrant color plumages, such as black, white, red, and others. 

However, the purple bird stands out because of its rarity and distinctive appearance that captivates bird watchers and enthusiasts. In fact, this renewed interest in purple bird species has birthed the idea of collaboration between Cornell Lab of Ornithology Participatory Science program, Purple Martin Conservation Association and Project Feederwatch. 

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about birds with purple plumage, their characteristics, why they are special, their habits, and the scientific marvel behind their magnificent colour.

 

What is The Science Behind the Purple Plumage in Birds?

Over the years, scientists have researched the reasons why some birds carry the fascinating purple colour while others take the average blue, black, and red colours. In a study published on ScienceDirect, researchers cited that birds with purple plumage are a representation of pigmentation, structural, and miscellaneous features. 

Generally, bird feathers contain four major classes of pigments, including melanin, porphyrin, psittacofulvin, and carotenoid. Melanin gives birds the black and brash colour, psittacovulvin is responsible for the yellow, red, and orange colours, while porphyrin produces bright olive and magenta colours. The carotenoid that is mainly obtained from plant-based bird diets plays a significant role in their purple colouration in birds. 

According to a study by River Legacy, researchers have found that there are 39 carotenoids found in purple bird species,  and how these carotenoid molecules bind inside the feathers influences the rate at which they produce purple color in birds.

There is also another basis of structural coloration or physical color as the reason for the purple color in birds. Structural colour is produced by the differential reflection and refraction of light rays on the bird's feathers, given the dimensions and wavelength of the light that strikes.

 

Top 5 Most Beautiful Purple Bird Species

The following is the breakdown of the most common species of birds with purple plumage you should know. In this section, we give you comprehensive details on purple birds' characteristics, fun facts, lifespan, habitat, and other information.

 

1. American Purple Gallinule 

American Purple Gallinule or Yellow-Legged Gallinule are primarily found in the freshwater marshes and swamps of the United States and Central America. This bird is distinctively identified by its medium-sized body, measuring 26-37cm in length and a total span of up to 50 to 69 cm at full wing stretch. 

American Purple Gallinule's physical characteristics vary according to their age. Adult gallinules around age six or seven showcase a distinctive deep purple plumage around their head, neck, and breast area. 

According to an iconographic analysis by Brill, the research identifies domestication patterns and usage of the American purple gallinule in trade, amusement purpose and aesthetic purposes by the Ancient Greeks and the Romans.   

● Lifespan: 22 years

● Food or Diet: flowers, seeds, tubers, spiders, bees, molluscs, beetles, frogs, small fish, and eggs of their birds

● Fun Facts:

● It is sometimes called the Swamp Hen because it resembles a chicken.

● Gallinules often walk on lily pads and hang upside down from a tree branch in search of food. 

 

2. Purple Martin 

The wonderful world of a purple Martin is quite fascinating because of their social settings, relationship with humans, and how they flock together during migration. Purple Martins are iconic summer birds that are found in the eastern part of the United States and Canada. Purple Martin birds are the largest Hirundiniae or Swallow species in all of North America. 

One of the most interesting traits of Purple Martin is how fast they flock, which is a testament to their agility that allows them to dive at full speed with their wings tucked in. 

Another interesting thing about the Purple Martin is their significance in Asian countries, most especially in China, where they regard them as a messenger of good fortune and happiness. 

● Lifespan: 5 to 7 years in the wild.

● Food or Diet: Flying insects, scrambled eggs, mealworms, butterflies, and bees.

● Fun Fact:

● Purple Martin gets its water and food in flight

● Their sighting in North America signifies the beginning of spring. 

 

3. Purple-throated Cotinga 

Purple-throated Cotinga is a small but remarkable bird that possesses a very high-pitched voice. This bird is distributed across the western Amazon of South America. With a total population of around 2.7 million, the Purple-Throated Cotinga is one of the most dominant birds of that area. 

Purple-throated Cotinga exhibited distinctive physical features between its male and female sexes.  A  male purple-throated cotinga is known by its black upper body part, while the female is characterised by a dark lower body part. However, what is common to both of these birds is their purple colored throat and breast area.

● Life span: 10 to 12 years.

● Food or Diet: Fruits of forest trees and insects

● Fun Fact: 

● Cotingas are seed dispersers and can consume entire fruits.

● The male Cotinga rattles its wings as a sign of heat during the reproductive season. 

 

4. Violet-Purple backed Starling 

The Violet-Purple backed Starling is another sexually dimorphic bird that has distinctive physical features that distinguish its female from the male sex. This bird is mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, most especially the open woodlands and gallery forest areas of Kenya. 

With an estimated size of about 17-20 cm in length and a total wingspan of 26 to 32 cm, violet-backed Starlings are some of the smallest birds you can find around. The male of this bird species has a beautiful, distinctive violet-purple upper part of its body with a bright white undercard that's complemented by black eyes and a bill. 

In African and Roman folklore, violet-backed starlings are more than just a representation of prosperity. Rather, they are a useful means of communication with their impressive vocal ability and mimicry sounds. 

● Life span: 4 to 7 years.

● Food or Diet: fruits, seeds, and insects like flycatchers and caterpillars.

● Fun Fact:

● Violet backed Starling's favorite place of nest is in a tree hole or ground holes at the river banks.  

● They are monogamous and will remain so unless their mate dies. 

 

5. Purple Honeycreeper

Purple honeycreepers are small, brilliantly colored birds with down-curved bills and brushy, double-tongued tubes. This is a common bird species that is widespread in the Amazon basin of South America. 

The combination of beautiful colours and the abundance of purple honey creepers in this area makes them so popular in Trinidad. The male purple honeycreepers are the most sought after among the species because of their purple coloration that reflects and shimmers when exposed to sunlight or microscopic light.

● Life span: 11 to 17 years.

● Food or Diet: fruits, insects, termites, ants, and berries.

● Fun Fact:

● Purple Honeycreeper protects its territory by coming out of its nest to investigate and mob any predators.

● They have a fluttering flight with rapid wing beats.

 

Conclusion

Purple birds' worldview is one that's filled with beauty, rarity, and captivating elegance that entice every birdwatcher. From the distinctive iridescent purple color of the American purple Gallinule to the purple honey creepers, these species of birds give us a full scope of the natural wonders.